Pumping system and storage tank



April 29, 1952 s. M. WHITE PUMPING SYSTEM AND STORAGE TANK Filed Jan. 7, 1948 E. WM u H .5 N N M w T M1 4 a L. m T a 5 B v F o 3 w w B .M I I E I D A w w w I H H- HI MI I'I HI I I V 2 9.4% 3 5 1 mm B I II llbll o a m w .Lw m m o (J. DI.

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Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

PUMPING SYSTEM AND STORAGE TANK Starley M. White, Fort Wayne, m.

Application January 7, 1948, Serial No. 905

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a pumping system and storage tank. More specifically, it relates to a water system in which the storage tank is substantially emptied during each cycle of pump operation.

The conventional home water system comprises a motor drivenpump which is connected to draw or otherwise lift water from the well and discharge it into a pressure tank from which it passes into the service lines. The pump is started and stopped by a pressure responsive switch which is actuated by the pressure in the tank. Some means are also usually provided for injecting air into the tank to replace that which is absorbed inthe water. The tank usually has a 20, 30 or 42 gallon capacity although other sizes are used, and the switch is usually set to start the pump when the tank pressure drops to 20 p. s. i. and to stop the pump when the pressure rises to 40 p. s. i.

These systems have several defects one of which is that-the air injecting means are usually unreliable so that the tank either has too little or too much air in it. When it accumulates too much air, this air will eventually blow into the service lines and be discharged through the faucets and when all of the air is leached out,'the tank becomes water-logged and the pump will start and stop frequently. It may also start and stop several times in response to the surges created when the switch opens. Such operation overloads the pump motor and causes it to burn out. I

A second defect is that, even'if it were possible to maintain the ideal cushion of air in the tank, only a small portion of the water contained in the tank is discharged during a cycle. Forinstance, a gallon tank working between 20 and 40 pound limits and having a normal air supply will discharge only about 16% or 4.8 gallons of water before the switch star-ts the motor. This results. in a large volume of water being retained in the tank and becoming stale. The fresh incoming water is mixed therewith and therefore the water passing to the service lines is never fresh water. This has led to various attempts to provide a special fresh water line in such systems at additional expense and with additional operational problems-being added thereby. The tank is large, heavy and costly.

My invention enables me to overcome the above mentioned difiiculties entirely as will appear below.

It is an object of my invention to provide a storage system andtank which will dischargesub- 2 I stantially the entire water contents of thetank during each cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tank which is capable of discharging up to fifty percent of its total capacity during each cycle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tank which will not become water-logged.

It is still another object to provide a tank and system which can be easily drained. U

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system which is small and compact.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system which will not start and stop fre quently and which will not create a condition which produces surges at cut-off, thereby preventing destruction of the motor.

Another object is to provide a storage tank in which the water and air spaces are defined by a diaphragm.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a diaphragm in a storage tank which is movable to and frim a position adjacent the inlet port to the tank.

A further object of the invention is to providea diaphragm which can be inverted to secure a large displacement.

These and other 0bjects will become apparent from a study of this specification and the drawings which are attached hereto and are made a part hereof and in which:

Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, showing the pumping system and the tank construction.

Figure 2 is a graph showing the comparative characteristics of the conventional water'system and that of my invention, operating between various pressure ranges. i

Referring now to Figure 1, the'numeral 1 represents a base upon which is mounted the storage tank 3. A pump 5 which is connected to be driven by the electric motor I, is mounted upon .the tank as is the motor. I

The pump has a suction or inlet pipe 9 and a discharge pipe I I connected to it. A pressure re sponsive switch I3 is connected by pipe l2 to the discharge pipe and by means of an electric conduit 15 to the motor "I. It is also connected through switch It to the power supply.

The discharge pipe II is connected throughza check valve l1 and T I!) to the water inlet cone nection 2| of the tank and also to the service line 23 which contains, a three way valve 24.

The tank comprises two separable'portions or chambers 25 and 21 which are joined by flanges 29 and 3|. In a system in which'the high pres-'-v sure is twice the low pressure, such as the 40 to 20 p. s. i. system described above which is very common, the chamber 25 is made one-third the volume of chamber 21. A cup shaped diaphragm or partitioning means 33 has a peripheral flange 35 which is clamped between flanges 29 and 31 and normally extends into the chamber 21. The diaphragm or partitioning means may be made of rubber or other synthetic or natural, flexible material which issubstantially impervious to air and water.

The diaphragm or partitioning means 33 preferably tapers slightly from its flange 35 toward its end wall 31 to facilitate its inversion toward the inlet of the chamber. The wall 35 is also preferably made somewhat thicker than the side walls to resist cutting by any sharp edges against which it may be pressed.

The end wall 39 of chamber 2'! is perforated to receive the pressure gauge 4| and a valve stem 43 which may be like that used in the usual automobile tire tube and which contains a valve, not shown.

The end wall :15 of the chamber 25 is fitted with a pipe coupling t1, the opening of which serves both as the inlet and the outlet port for water entering and leaving the tank.

A stop plate 49 is welded or otherwise fixed in the chamber 27 and has an opening 54 formed centrally therein. In the case of the system stated above, wherein the high pressure is double the low pressure, this plate will be disposed sothat one third the volume of the chamber is situated between the plate and the flange 3|. The plate serves to limit the movement of the wall 3'! of the diaphragm and serves as a rest therefor, so that it will not be stretched by water under pressure.

Operation Assuming that the tank is of 30 gallons capacity and that the system is operating between 40 and 20 p. s. i., the system beirig empty, chamber 21 is first charged with air or other gas through the valve stem 43 until gauge 41 registers 20 p. s. i The diaphragm will be inverted by this application of pressure so that wall 3i will lie adjacent the port in coupling 57. It may be forced against the edge of the port if the pressure is not carefully noted but since it is relatively thick, it will notbe cut thereby.

The. switch [6 is closed and, since the switch I3 is already closed because the pressure in the discharge pipe is zero, this will start the pump.

Water will be passed through supply line 9, pump 5, discharge line H, check valve H, T i9, connection 2| and the port in coupling 41'! into the chamber 25. The diaphragm es will be displaced to the. right compressing the air in chamher 2?. By the time the pressure in chamber 25 and the system generally reaches 46 pounds, the air in chamber 21, having been compressed to half its original volume, will be under l pounds pressure also, neglecting any variation in temperature. Such variation can, of course be compensated for in the initial filling of the chamher with air. The pressures in the two charm hers will thus be equalized and the diaphragm wall 37 will rest on the stop plate 4Q, closing the opening thereof. The thickness of the wall also protects it from being cut by the edge of the opening in case the water pressure exceeds the air pressure. The plate obviously prevents any stretching, of the diaphragm in case the pressures are unbalanced.

The diaphragm is thus returned to its normal shape and 15 gallons of fresh water is now contained in the tank. The pump is stopped by the pressure responsive switch when the 40 pound pressure is reached.

If water is now drawn from the service line, the water pressure begins to drop and the air pressure will force the diaphragm 33 to the left, forcing water out of the tank. This continues as water is drawn of and the diaphragm gradually inverts and when the pressures reach 20 pounds, the wall 31 thereof will again be adjacent the port and the water chamber will be empty. The switch again starts the pump to repeat the cycle.

It will thus be seen that during the cycle, one half of the total volume of the tank, fifteen gallons, has been filled with water and completely emptied as compared with 4.8 gallons in the conventional system. The water is all fresh and there is no carry over of stale water. This eliminates the need for a fresh water outlet on my system. It is therefore obvious that I can deliver more water per cycle than can be done with a conventional system, using a 10 gallon tank whereas such conventional system employs a gallon tank.

To illustrate the advantages of my invention more fully, the curves shown in Figure 2 are re-.- ferred to. The curve A discloses thegallons dise charged by a conventional system employing a 30 gallon tank and operating between 20 and 4;) pounds. The volumes are represented on the abscissa and pressures on the ordinates.

The curve A discloses the discharge from my system under the conditions stated in connection with curve A.

Curve B represents the operation of a convene tional system between the pressure limits of and 10 pounds and shows a discharge of about 9.75 gallons.

Curve A'- B represents the operation of my device between the same limits when constructed in the proportions set forth above. It will be noted that all of the water is discharged when the pressure drops to 20 pounds and that thereafter the pressure drops substantially instantaneously to Zero and actuates the switch.

It is obvious that in this case the effectiveness of the device can be improved by altering the position of the stop 49. For instance, if the stop were located 3 1; ofthe length of thetank away from the port, the full range of pressure could be utilized and 22 gallonsof' water would be discharged as is shown by curve D. The diaphragm would, of course, have to, be altered. to meet the new tank proportions.

Curve C represents the conventional system operating between 40' and pounds. Only about 2.16 gallons will be discharged, whereas in my device ten gallons would be discharged. It is obvious that the proportions .of my tank could be altered for this range to secure even more effect.

Comparable differences are attained by my device when operating between other pressure limits and with other tank sizes. In each of the cases shown, my system can employ a smaller tank. It. also maintains the required air cushion indefinitely whereas the conventional system cannot do so, thus making the comparison even more favorable to my system.

To drain the system, it is necessary merely to break the suction line and turn three way valve 24 so that it will connect the T It and the service line to the drain outlet. The diaphragm will discharge substantially all of the water from the tank, a short operation of the pump will clear the inlet and discharge lines and opening of the cocks in the service line will permit them to drain so that the system is emptied entirely in a very simple manner. When switch opened, the system is out of service.

While I have disclosed a preferred form of my invention for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that various changes can be made therein and in the size, shape, construction arrangement and proportion of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. I do not desire, therefore to be limited to the exact form shown but desire protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I consider to be new and novel and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

1. In a water pumping system comprising a pump having a discharge pipe, a service line and an elongated tank having a port, both connected to the pipe, the improvement which comprises partitioning means sealingly mounted in the tank for movement to and from a position adjacent the port, said means defining a liquid chamber adjacent the port and a gas chamber in the tank, stop means disposed intermediate the ends of the tank for limiting the movement of said partitioning means away from said port, a motor for the pump and a pressure responsive switch for controlling the motor, said switch serving to start the motor when a predetermined low pressure is reached and to stop the motor when a predetermined high pressure is reached, said stop means being so positioned that the product of the volume of the tank and the low pressure is substantially equal to the product of the gas chamber volume, when the partitioning means rests on the stop, and thehigh pressure.

2. In a water pumping system comprising a liquid pump having a discharge pipe, a motor for driving the pump, a service line and a tank having a port, both connected to the pipe, the improvement which comprises partitioning means sealingly mounted in the, tank and movable therein to and from a position adjacent the port, said means dividing the tank into liquid and air chambers, a switch for starting and stopping the motor in response to predetermined low and high pressures respectively, said high pressure being twice the low pressure, said gas chamber being charged to a pressure substantially equal to the low pressure when the means is adjacent the port and stop means for said partitioning means disposed at a point where the volumes of the cham h rs are eq al,

3. A a e sto a e ta k f r a uid sys em co in a e ongat d ta a a gm in the tank disposed to divide it into two chambers, a l u o n on ch mb r, a sto n he othe chamb r ace ro t e por sai iaphra m having a flange adapted to be fixed to the tank, a t ansverse wall and a. tu u r wall co ne tin I5 is.

the flange and transverse wall, said wall and flange being axially spaced a. distance equal to half the distance between the port and the stop.

4. A water storage tank fora liquid system, comprising an elongated tank, a diaphragm in the tank disposed to divide it into two chambers, a liquid port in one chamber, a stop in the tank spaced from said port, said diaphragm having a frusto-conical side wall having its small end closed and being fixed by its large end to the tank midway between the port and the stop, the depth of said diaphragm being equalto one-half the distance between the port and the stop.

5. In a water pumping system comprising a liquid pump having a discharge pipe, a motor for driving the pump, a service line and a tank having a port, both connected to the pipe, the improvement which comprises a diaphragm sealingly mounted in the tank and movable to and from a position adjacent the port, said diaphragm dividing the tank into liquid and gas chambers, a switch for stopping and starting the motor at predetermined high and low pressures respectively, said gas chamber being charged to a pressure substantially equal to the low pressure when the diaphragm is adjacent the port, said diaphragm being cupped so as to be invertible and having a capacity substantially equal to one half the volume of the water chamber.

6. In a water pumping system comprising a pump having a discharge pipe, a service line and a tank having a port, both connected to the pipe, the improvement which comprises partitioning means sealingly mounted in the tank for movement to and from a position closely adjacent the port, said means defining a liquid chamber, adjacent the port, and a gas chamber in the tank, a motor for the pump and a pressure responsive switch for controlling the motor, said switch serving to start the motor when a predetermined low pressure is reached and to stop the motor when a predetermined high pressure is reached, said pressures andvolumes being such that the product of the volume of the entire tank and the low pressure is substantially equal to the product of volume of the gas chamber, determined by the partitioning means when it occupies its maximum extended position under said predetermined high pressure, and said high pressure.

STARLEY M. \VHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,191,469 Rix en July 18, 1916 1,937,149 Holveck Nov. 28, 1933 1,938,956 Fee Dec. 12, 1933 2,324,701 Herman s July 20, 1943 2,351,761 Hanna o r June 20, 194.4, 2,405,614; Shriro Aug. 13, 194.6 2,412,107 Tannehill Dec. 3, 1946 2, 2, 1 pal ing et a1. Dec- 20, 1. 49 

